What happens when a trusted gift officer leaves and someone new inherits the portfolio? Too often, new fundraisers worry they're replacing a beloved relationship when, in reality, they're continuing a donor's commitment to a mission they already believe in. Why are donors more connected to organizations than individuals? Understanding these five practical strategies will make portfolio transitions seamless, donor-centered, and successful.
Read MoreListen to the weekly podcast “Around with Randall” as he discusses, in just a few minutes, a topic surrounding non-profit philanthropy. Included each week are tactical suggestions listeners can use to immediately make their non-profit, and their job activities, more effective.
Find “Around with Randall” on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Email Randall with a show topic: podcast@hallettphilanthropy.com
Email Randall with a thought regarding a specific show: reeks@hallettphilanthropy.com
Filter
- 200 1
- 2023 2
- 2024 1
- 2025 2
- 80/20 1
- 990 1
- AI 2
- AI Podcast 1
- Action 1
- Advice 1
- Advocacy 1
- Andrew Carnegie 1
- Anonymity 1
- Board 2
- Boards 2
- Boss 1
- Burnout 1
- CEO 1
- CRM 1
- Capital Campaign 2
- Case Statement 2
- Celebrating 1
- Christmas 1
- Closing 1
- Collaboration 3
- Community 1
- Continuity 1
- Contracts 1
- Data 1
- Decision-making 1
- Development director 1
- Donor Advised Funds 1
- Donor Engagement 3
- Donor Experience 1
- Donor Relations 1
- Donor Relationships 4
- Donor retention 1
- ELB 1
- Employee 1
- End of year giving 1
- Engagement 4
- Ethics 2
- Evaluation 1
- Family Philanthropy 1
- Feasibility Study 1
- Feedback 1
- Financial Planning 1
- Fundraising 6
- Fundraising Strategy 1
- Giving USA 1
There is a tension many nonprofit leaders feel but rarely name: when a mission statement remains sacred, even after the organization’s work has evolved. Mission change should be rare, careful, and rooted in identity rather than opportunity. It’s not about finding new language. The most important statement should accurately reflect who they are, what they do, and why their work matters now. For leaders navigating strategy, donor trust, and community need, consider this thoughtful framework for knowing when a mission is still guiding the work and when it may be holding the organization back.
Read MoreTechnology has transformed how fundraisers research donors, track relationships, and manage data – but the core engine of philanthropy has not changed. Major gifts still emerge from trust, presence, and meaningful human conversations. Drawing on the early principles of fundraising pioneer Henry A. Rosso and insights from The Generosity Crisis by Nathan Chappell, this episode reminds us that real relationships (not automation) drive philanthropy. The tools may evolve, but the fundamentals of initiating contact, listening carefully, and patiently building trust remain the true path to transformational giving.
Read MoreAdversity isn’t a pause for nonprofits - it’s a pivot point. As we head into 2026, organizations facing leadership turnover, donor fatigue, staffing gaps, and revenue volatility must decide whether to act, watch, or wonder what happened. This episode reframes adversity as a moment for honest assessment, disciplined focus, and intentional adjustment. Progress doesn’t come from busyness or optimism—it comes from clarity, choices, and the willingness to engage discomfort. The organizations that emerge stronger will be the ones that choose action.
Read MorePlanned giving won’t grow if we keep rewarding gift officers as if it doesn’t exist. When incentives focus only on cash and pledges, we unintentionally steer MGO’s away from the very conversations that unlock transformational wealth. This episode tackles the internal challenge head-on: how nonprofits can count planned gifts (without violating accounting rules) in ways that motivate the right behaviors. Change the incentives, and you change the outcomes.
Read MoreUncertainty has become the backdrop of modern philanthropy. Volatile markets, shifting interest rates, political noise, and a massive transfer of wealth all colliding at once. In moments like these, donors aren’t pulling away from generosity; they’re searching for it. Clarity, flexibility, and reassurance. Planned and estate giving offers exactly that: options to solve real concerns while aligning deeply held values with long-term impact. The real opportunity isn’t about asking for money, it’s about helping donors make confident decisions in uncertain times. For nonprofits willing to lead with curiosity and care, this moment may define the next decade of transformational giving.
Read MoreLooking back on 2025, the real story isn’t which predictions landed, it’s what they exposed about modern philanthropy. Strong markets and record giving mean a deeper shift: fewer donors, rising inequality, and growing dependence on a shrinking pool of major and mega givers. Donor-advised funds surged, AI gained traction, and consolidation quietly accelerated. The year proved philanthropy isn’t failing—but it is becoming more concentrated, more strategic, and less forgiving of organizations without a plan.
Read MoreDonor salons are small, intimate gatherings designed to deepen relationships without asking for money. If you focus on conversation, curiosity, and shared values, you spark authentic engagement that leads to stronger long-term giving. These experiences feel exclusive, personal, and meaningful, more powerful than email, phone calls, or large fundraising events. When executed with purpose, thoughtful hosting, and timely follow-up, salons become a fast track to trust, insight, and transformational philanthropy.
Read More